Jennifer Michelle "Ginnifer" Goodwin[1] (born May 22, 1978)[1] is an American actress. She starred as Margene Heffman in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006–2011), Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard in the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time (2011–2018), Judy Hopps in Zootopia (2016) and Beth Ann Stanton in Why Women Kill (2019).

Ginnifer Goodwin
Goodwin in 2012
Born
Jennifer Michelle Goodwin

(1978-05-22) May 22, 1978 (age 46)
EducationHanover College
Boston University (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
Known forBig Love
He's Just Not That Into You
Once Upon a Time
Zootopia
Spouse
(m. 2014)
Children2

Goodwin appeared in films, including the drama Mona Lisa Smile (2003), the musical biopic Walk the Line (2005), the romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You (2009), the family comedy Ramona and Beezus (2010), the romantic comedy Something Borrowed (2011), and the biopic Killing Kennedy (2013). She also voiced the lead role of Fawn in the Disney animated fantasy film Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast (2014).

Early life and education

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Goodwin was born in Memphis, Tennessee.[2] Her mother, Linda (Kantor) Goodwin, is a former teacher who also worked for FedEx.[3] Her father, Tim Goodwin, formerly owned and operated a recording studio.[4] Goodwin changed the spelling of her name from "Jennifer" to "Ginnifer" to distinguish her name, and to assist in how her name is pronounced in her Southern regional dialect.[5] Her younger sister, Melissa Goodwin, is a stop-motion animator on shows such as Robot Chicken.

Goodwin's mother is Jewish.[6] Goodwin was raised attending both the First Unitarian Church and Temple Israel.[4][7] As a child, she attended the Henry S. Jacobs Camp, a summer camp for Reform Jewish children in Utica, Mississippi.[citation needed] She was baptized as a child and also studied to have a bat mitzvah service, in the Jewish custom of recognizing her coming of age.[8][9]

In her youth, Goodwin was affiliated with the North American Federation of Temple Youth. She was active in BBYO at the Jewish Community Center in Memphis.[10] She attended the private St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Lausanne Collegiate School in 1996.

She attended Hanover College (majoring in theater) for one year before transferring and completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University. While a student at BU, she performed in numerous student short films, as well as several college and local stage productions. Goodwin was given the "Excellence in Acting: Professional Promise Award" by the Bette Davis Foundation, and graduated with honors. After her time at Boston University, she lived for a time in England and studied at Stratford on Avon's Shakespeare Institute, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The following year, she earned an Acting Shakespeare Certificate from London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[11]

Career

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Goodwin in 2007

Goodwin first had roles in the NBC television programs Law & Order and Ed before appearing in the Comedy Central television movie Porn 'n Chicken. She later had substantial roles in the films Mona Lisa Smile, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Walk the Line—in which she portrayed Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife—and Birds of America. She also played Dori Dumchovic in the dark comedy Love Comes to the Executioner.[citation needed] Goodwin played a leading role as Margene Heffman, the third wife in a polygamous family, on the HBO original series Big Love, which concluded on March 20, 2011. Goodwin has done voice work in the Adult Swim series Robot Chicken, where her younger sister Melissa works as an animator.

In 2008, Max Mara honored Goodwin with a "Face of the Future" award, an award recognizing up-and-coming women in film.[12]

Goodwin played Gigi in He's Just Not That Into You (2009). For this role, she received a nomination for the People's Choice Award for Breakout Movie Actress.[13] In April 2009 she began filming Ramona and Beezus, playing "Aunt Bea".[14] The film was released on July 23, 2010.

From 2011 to 2017, Goodwin played a leading role in the ABC fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time. She played both the fairy tale heroine Snow White and her real-world counterpart, schoolteacher Mary Margaret Blanchard.[15] Goodwin and husband Josh Dallas left the show at the end of its sixth season to move back to Los Angeles with their family.[16] They both returned to the series for its finale at the end of the seventh season.[17]

Goodwin voiced Judy Hopps, the protagonist rabbit police officer in Disney's Zootopia, as well as Fawn in Disney's animated film Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast.[18] She also voiced Gwen, a kitchen maid who wants to be an inventor, in the animated series Sofia The First.

In January 2017, Goodwin was cast as Marianne in the Los Angeles production of Constellations.[19] The play ran from June 14 to July 23, 2017, at the Geffen Playhouse.[20]

In 2019, Goodwin appeared in episodes of the anthology series The Twilight Zone[21] and Heartstrings.[22] Also in 2019, she starred as Beth Ann in the first season of the CBS All Access dark comedy-drama series Why Women Kill.[23]

Goodwin played Jodie in the Fox comedy series Pivoting,[24] which premiered on January 9, 2022. The show was cancelled after one season.[25]

Goodwin will reprise her voice role as Judy Hopps in Disney's Zootopia 2, set for release in November 2025.

Personal life

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Goodwin with her husband Josh Dallas in 2012

Goodwin dated actor Joey Kern and they became engaged in December 2010.[26] They ended the engagement in May 2011.[27] Goodwin subsequently began dating her Once Upon a Time co-star Josh Dallas in late 2011.[28] They got engaged in October 2013[29] and married on April 12, 2014, in California.[30] They have two sons, born in May 2014[31] and June 2016.[32]

In 2013, Goodwin said that after leaving Memphis, she "up and left Judaism for a very long time," and that "for 10 years, there was nothing. No ritual. No tradition. No community." She later reconnected with her faith, and has said, "I was a Jew by birth, and now I'm a Jew by choice."[7]

Following the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, Goodwin has been vocal about her support for Israel on Social Media, calling for the return of kidnapped child hostages on her Instagram account.[33] Goodwin also filmed a video for the American Jewish Committee in which she claimed that the phrase "Globalize the Intifada" called for Jews worldwide to be attacked.[34] In February 2024, Goodwin signed an open letter by Creative Community for Peace rejecting calls for Israel to be banned from Eurovision 2024 amid the ingoing Israel-Hamas war.[35] In September 2024, Goodwin attended Zionist activist Hen Mazzig's seminar Jews Talk Justice Labratories in Los Angeles.[36]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Zelda: An Extrospective Journey Zelda Short film
2003 Mona Lisa Smile Constance Baker
2004 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! Cathy Feely
2005 Walk the Line Vivian Cash
2006 Love Comes to the Executioner Dori Dumchovic
2007 In the Land of Women Janey
Day Zero Molly Rifkin
2008 Birds of America Ida Tanager
2009 He's Just Not That Into You Gigi Phillips
A Single Man Mrs. Strunk
2010 Ramona and Beezus Aunt Beatrice
2011 Take Me Home Tonight Banky
Something Borrowed Rachel White
2014 Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast Fawn Voice
2016 Zootopia Judy Hopps
2023 Buddy Games: Spring Awakening Celia
Once Upon a Studio Judy Hopps Voice
2025 Zootopia 2 Voice; in production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Law & Order Erica Episode: "Myth of Fingerprints"
2001–2003 Ed Diane Snyder Main role (seasons 2–3), 25 episodes
2002 Porn 'n Chicken Maya Television film
2005 Robot Chicken Various voices Recurring voice role, 7 episodes
2006–2011 Big Love Margene Heffman Main role
2007 Big Love: In the Beginning Margene Heffman 2 episodes
2009 Crappy Holidays Presents... N/A Episode: "Crappy Easter"
2011 SpongeBob SquarePants Purple Haired Mermaid Voice role; episode: "Welcome to the Bikini Bottom Triangle"
Margene's Blog Margene Henrickson Episode: "Crush Story"
Five Charlotte Television film
2011–2018 Once Upon a Time Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White Main role (seasons 1–6), Special Guest Star (Season 7)
2012 Electric City Jean Marie St. Cloud Voice role
2013 Killing Kennedy Jacqueline Kennedy Television film
2014 Sofia the First Gwen Voice role; episode: "Gizmo Gwen"
2015 Who Do You Think You Are? Herself Episode: "Ginnifer Goodwin"
2019 I Am Somebody's Child: The Regina Louise Story Jeanne Kerr Television film; also Executive producer
The Twilight Zone Eve Martin Episode: "Point of Origin"[21]
Heartstrings Genevieve Episode: "These Old Bones"[22]
Why Women Kill Beth Ann Stanton Lead role (season 1)[37]
2021 Earth to Ned Herself Episode: "Dream a Little Dream of Ned"
2022 Pivoting Jodie[38] Main role
Zootopia+ Judy Hopps Voice role; archival recordings

Video games

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Theater

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Production Result
2010 People's Choice Award Favorite Breakout Movie Actress Herself Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy Something Borrowed Nominated
2012 Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Once Upon a Time Nominated
2013 Nominated
People's Choice Award Favorite TV Drama Actress Nominated
2014 Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Nominated
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Actress Nominated
Favorite TV Duo (along with Josh Dallas) Nominated
2016 Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Actress Nominated
2016 Voice Arts™ Awards Outstanding Motion Picture Animation, Best Voiceover[40] Zootopia Won
2016 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Animated Female[a][41] Won
2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Animated Movie Voice Nominated
2017 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Frenemies (shared with Jason Bateman)[42] Won

Notes

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  1. ^ Tied with Auliʻi Cravalho for Moana

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ginnifer Goodwin". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  2. ^ "Ginnifer Goodwin Biography – Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo!. May 22, 1978. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  3. ^ Pellettieri, Courtney (May 2010). "Meals My Mother Taught Me". InStyle. 17 (5): 324–325.
  4. ^ a b Bloom, Nate (July 3, 2013). "Ginnifer Goodwin Re-Discovers her Faith". InterfaithFamily. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  5. ^ Stated by Goodwin on the Late Show with David Letterman, March 18, 2009
  6. ^ Stein, Danielle (June 1, 2009). "Not So Goodwin". W magazine. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Waters, David (May 25, 2013). "Ginnifer Goodwin comes 'home' to Jewish faith". Faith in Memphis. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  8. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee (April 28, 2014). "Ginnifer Goodwin's ketubah caper". The Times of Israel. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  9. ^ Ginnifer Goodwin Archived December 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. W Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  10. ^ "Jews in the Limelight". Generationj.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  11. ^ "Ginnifer Goodwin Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  12. ^ Leisa Barnett (June 19, 2008). "Ginnifer Goodwin wins MaxMara award (Vogue.com UK)". Vogue. UK. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  13. ^ "2010 People's Choice Award Nominees Revealed; Neil Patrick Harris, Hugh Jackman & Green Day Honored". BWW News Desk. November 10, 2009.
  14. ^ Lucas, Anthony J. (March 4, 2009). "Today's new movie announcements". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
  15. ^ "Once Upon a Time's Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin & Co. on Their Literal "Dream" Project" Archived November 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, TV Line (July 25, 2011)
  16. ^ Johnson, Diedre (June 6, 2017). "After Once Upon a Time and Downton Abbey, Ginnifer Goodwin and Allen Leech Star on Stage". Paste. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  17. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (March 21, 2018). "'Once Upon a Time': Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas and Emilie de Ravin Return for Series Finale". TVLine.
  18. ^ "Ginnifer Goodwin Joins Jason Bateman in Disney Animation's 'Zootopia' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 6, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  19. ^ Gardner, Chris (January 23, 2017). "Ginnifer Goodwin Set for 'Constellations' at Geffen Playhouse". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Premiere Of "Constellations" At The Geffen Playhouse Extends Through July 23". Westside Today. June 22, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  21. ^ a b Petski, Denise (February 7, 2019). "'The Twilight Zone': Ginnifer Goodwin To Star In Episode Of CBS All Access Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  22. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (November 7, 2018). "Kathleen Turner, Ginnifer Goodwin & Kyle Bornheimer To Star In 'These Old Bones' Episode of Dolly Parton Netflix Anthology". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  23. ^ Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2019). "Lucy Liu To Star In 'Why Women Kill' On CBS All Access". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  24. ^ Andrea, Nellie (May 14, 2022). "'Pivoting' Canceled By Fox In Nail-Biter After One Season". Deadline. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  25. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (October 19, 2021). "Fox Sets Midseason Premiere Dates For 'Next Level Chef,' 'Call Me Kat' & 'Pivoting'". Deadline. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  26. ^ Zuckerman, Blaine (December 24, 2010). "Ginnifer Goodwin Is Engaged!". People. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  27. ^ Zuckerman, Blaine (May 20, 2011). "Ginnifer Goodwin and Fiancé Break Up". People. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  28. ^ Johnson, Zach (April 14, 2012). "Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas Make Red Carpet Debut as a Couple!". Us Weekly. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  29. ^ Jordan, Julie (October 11, 2013). "Ginnifer Goodwin Engaged to Josh Dallas". People. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  30. ^ Michaud, Sarah (April 13, 2014). "Ginnifer Goodwin Marries Josh Dallas". People. Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  31. ^ Jordan, Julie (May 30, 2014). "Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas Are Parents of Baby Boy". People. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  32. ^ "Once Upon a Time's Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas Welcome Baby No. 2". E! News. June 8, 2016.
  33. ^ "Actress Ginnifer Goodwin speaks on behalf of child hostages held by Hamas". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "Actress Ginnifer Goodwin explains how "Globalize the Intifada" is a Call for Violence | AJC". www.ajc.org. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  35. ^ CCFPeace (February 14, 2024). "Open Letter – Eurovision 2024". Creative Community for Peace -. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  36. ^ Abramovitch, Seth (September 18, 2024). "Why Pro-Israel Hollywood Stars Like Debra Messing and Ginnifer Goodwin Turn to Hen Mazzig for Advice". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  37. ^ Ausiello, Michael (February 13, 2019). "Ginnifer Goodwin Joins Marc Cherry's Why Women Kill at CBS All Access". TVLine.
  38. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 20, 2020). "Ginnifer Goodwin To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot 'Pivoting'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  39. ^ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:29 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
  40. ^ "2016 Voice Arts Awards Nominees". sovas.org. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  41. ^ "2016 AWFJ EDA Award Winners | Alliance of Women Film Journalists". awfj.org. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  42. ^ "Kids' Choice Awards 2017: Full Nominees and Winners List". Us Weekly. March 11, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
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